Her eyes lit up. "Yes." She nodded reverently. "Of course I'll help."
Hope leapt through him. "Aren't you afraid?"
She set her hand on his jaw, sliding her fingers along his whiskers. "Of course I'm scared," she said solemnly. "I'm actually terrified, of many things, including wolf shifters...except you. I'm not scared of you, and I never will be, no matter what."
This time, instead of cringing away from her vote of confidence, resolution flooded him, a fierce determination to do whatever it took to prevail. "Then let's do it."
Before she could answer, a heavy knock sounded on the door. "Jace." Drake's voice was low and rough. "You better get out here. Now."
* * *
Still buttoning her jeans, Abby hurried after Jace as he strode out of his room. Drake was leaning against the wall of the hallway waiting for them, his arms folded over his chest. His muscles were bunched, his expression tense, making him look every bit the deadly shifter bodyguard. His dark eyes flicked knowingly from Jace to her, and Abby's cheeks heated up.
Of course Drake would know what they'd been doing. Everyone there would have known. They were all shifters, which meant they had heightened senses. She hadn't even been thinking of that at the time, but now she realized that everyone had known exactly what they were doing, the entire time they were doing it.
Jace reached behind him and took her hand. He squeezed gently and pulled her up beside him so he could put his arm around her shoulders, clearly marking her as his as he turned toward Drake. "What's going on?"
Drake glanced at Abby again, but this time, he nodded in acknowledgement, accepting her position with Jace. "This way." He turned and strode down the hallway toward the living room.
Abby started to follow him, but Jace stopped and turned her toward him. He caught her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Never hide from what we have," he said, his voice low. "We stand together, no matter what. Understand?"
Relief rushed through her, and she smiled. "You're sort of bossy," she teased.
He stared at her for a moment, as if processing her response, then a slow grin spread across his face. "Yeah, well, I'm alpha. These things happen."
"Well, here's the thing." She started walking, and tossed him a haughty look over her shoulder. "I spent my life being bossed around by wolves, so I don't want another alpha. Equality sounds good to me."
His grin widened, and he snagged her wrist, dragging her back toward him. She bumped into his chest, but before she could protest, he sank his mouth onto hers and kissed her. It was a deep, penetrating kiss designed to make her collapse under the assault.
It worked.
By the time he drew back, her legs were trembling and her heart was pounding. He grinned smugly. "Alpha," he said. "I like it that way."
She wasn't going to lie. She rather liked him the way he was, too. But at the same time, the reason she liked him that way was because she knew that his alpha posturing was a lie when it came to her. He'd never force her to do anything, which was why she felt safe with him. So, she simply slipped her hand in his and smiled at him. "Liar," she said softly. "You like that I give you grief. I know you do."
He blinked with feigned innocence. "What?"
"You're not alpha with me, but it's okay. I won't tell anyone." She wiggled her eyebrows at him as she began to walk down the hall, towing him behind her.
After a moment, he sighed in capitulation and lengthened his stride to catch up to her. He caught her around the waist and trapped her against the wall, his eyes feral with hunger. "You make me more dangerous than I've ever been," he growled. "I want to claim you, and defend you, and not be nice about it." He slid his fingers along her jaw. "And at the same time, I want to be tender for you. Soft. Gentle. I want to be the silk that slides over your body, and the dragon who claims you for all eternity. I want it all with you, Abby. Every last bit."
Her throat tightened at the honesty in his voice, the truth in his dark eyes. "I love all those sides of you," she whispered. The words came easier this time, because she knew they mattered to him, even if he couldn't acknowledge them.
He searched her face, and then nodded. "Good." He bent his head to kiss her again, but as his lips touched hers, Drake shouted his name.
Jace pulled back, his brow furrowed. "You distract me from my duties," he said. "That's never happened before."
She couldn't summon up any regret. It just felt too good to matter to him, and to know that she affected him in a way no one else did. So, she shrugged. "It's not surprising. I'm kind of amazing that way."
His eyebrows shot up, and he grinned. "Humble, too."
"Jace!" Drake appeared in the doorway. "Now!"
Jace immediately turned away from her, but he caught her hand as he followed Drake into the living room, staking his claim on her in front of everyone. She couldn't help but grin as she followed him, feeling more secure than she'd ever felt in her life.
But her smile vanished when she entered the room and she saw what was waiting for them.
Chapter 17
The injured shifter was on the couch, his torso heavily wrapped. He was pale, and his cheeks sunken, just as hers had been after Lucius's attack. His eyes were closed, and he was resting his head against the wall, as if the mere act of staying conscious was too much. His sister was perched on the couch beside him, her brows knit with concern. Kiernan was standing by the doorway that led upstairs, pacing restlessly. But it was the injured shifter that Abby couldn't take her gaze off. Such a short time ago, that had been her, almost disemboweled by Lucius.
Instinctively, she dropped Jace's hand and walked over to the couch. She crouched in front of him, her heart crying for what he'd endured, and what he'd suffered. "My name is Abby Collins," she said softly.
He didn't answer, but his sister did. "I'm Savannah Black. My brother is Roarke."
Abby looked over at Savannah. Her hair was bright red, tangled in matted knots around her shoulders. Blood still streaked her neck, and her shirt was stained. She looked thin and worn out, as if she'd endured hell before coming to Kiernan's. "What happened?"
Savannah slipped her fingers through her brother's. "Lucius kidnapped me a few months ago. Roarke came after me." Tears filled her eyes. "He saved me."
"Lucius?" Abby asked, her voice breaking. Savannah had been held prisoner by Lucius, just like her? "Is that who attacked Roarke?"
Savannah nodded, and Abby's stomach churned. Perspiration beaded on her forehead and fear slithered down her spine like a ghoul preparing to strike-
Jace walked up behind her and set his hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. The tight grip of fear eased at his touch, and Abby took a deep breath, grounding herself.
Roarke's eyes cracked open, and he gazed at her through slitted eyes. "Yeah. It was Lucius." His voice was rough and hoarse, as if the pain had made him scream for hours.
Nausea churned in Abby's stomach. She'd been so concerned over Jace that she hadn't taken time to find out what had happened to bring Savannah and Roarke to Kiernan's. Guilt washed over her, along with empathy so stark she could barely breathe. She stood up and pulled up her shirt, showing her stomach. "Me, too."
"Oh, God." Savannah sucked in her breath, and even Roarke made a grunt of surprise. His gaze went to her ravaged belly, and stayed there for a long time. As he stared at her stomach, his fingers tightened around his sister's, as if he could keep her safe simply by holding her hand.
"I'm so sorry," Savannah whispered, her face pale, her hand going to Abby's belly.
Abby stiffened at the touch, but to her surprise, Savannah's touch was soft and warm, somehow easing the sting of her scars. It had been amazing when Jace had accepted her body, but she'd thought he would be the only one. But Savannah didn't recoil. Instead, she was reaching out to comfort her, not afraid of being tainted by the ugliness of Abby's body.
Tears filled Abby's eyes, and she swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure.
"He said he would do that to me if I didn't do what he wanted," Savannah whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked up at Abby. "He's a monster."
Roarke squeezed her hand. "He didn't get you." His voice was low, barely a whisper, but even so, the strength of his words was like a solid wall of steel wrapping around them all. Abby realized then that Roarke was the same as Jace, dangerous, powerful, and intensely loyal. He'd nearly died saving his sister, and she knew he'd do it again.